About us

Rotherham Heritage Service is based at Clifton Park Museum in Rotherham.

Clifton Park Museum, formerly Clifton House was the home of the Walker family who ran the Rotherham Iron Works. It became Rotherham’s Museum in 1893. The museum has fascinating rooms and exhibits, including Roman, Ceramic and Victorian galleries and a Victorian Kitchen with a working Range. The York and Lancaster Regimental Museum and Rotherham’s Archives and Local Studies Service are also located within the museum. The museum is now the home to the borough’s Registration Service where around 300 ceremonies are conducted each year.

We also manage other heritage sites across the borough of Rotherham including Boston Castle which is a 19th Century hunting lodge, built for the Earl of Effingham in 1775. The Castle was refurbished in 2012 and is now a small visitor attraction which is set within Boston Park, with views of surrounding Rotherham and Sheffield

At Rotherham Heritage Service our team aims to provide outstanding, inspiring and stimulating experiences for adults, families, children and young people. We achieve this by delivering an inspiring activity programme within our heritage.

Role Description: Volunteer Conservation & Collections Care Assistant

The role will be to assist the Conservator in day to day collections care tasks, helping us look after our collection, and when possible engaging with our visitors about our conservation work.

Person Specification:

We are looking for the following qualities:

An eye for detail and good observational skills

Enthusiasm, reliability, and motivation

Someone who is careful and precise

An interest in looking after historical objects and learning about conservation

Volunteers who are happy to work independently or as part of a team

Key Duties and Tasks:

Carrying out a range of practical cleaning tasks, e.g. dusting objects on open display, thoroughly cleaning storage areas, and routine housekeeping tasks as directed by the collections care team.

Working in front of our visitors and engaging them with our work, e.g. when working in the galleries with the Conservator.

Handling and assessing the condition of museum objects, which will include writing brief condition reports and object photography.

Assisting with minor repairs and treatments under the supervision of the Conservator (after appropriate training has been given).

Making conservation grade hangers and costume covers for historical dress in storage.

Helping with the correct labelling and safe packaging of objects for storage and transportation.

Helping with the preventive conservation work around the museum and its stores, e.g. doing environmental spot checks in galleries or assisting with the quarterly pest management routines.

The above list can be amended and we encourage volunteers to discuss areas in which they wish to progress personally with the Conservator to enable the best experience for both volunteer and Heritage Services.

Support

We value all our volunteers and encourage the development of new skills and experience. In house training will be provided on a regular basis to help volunteers develop or enhance their skills. All personal protective equipment will be supplied and health and safety training given where appropriate.